Teaching and Learning Archivist

11-Apr-2024

Harvard Library

65580BR

Job Summary

Although this position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by end of day on May 17, 2024.

Reporting to the Head of Teaching and Learning for Archives and Special Collections, the Teaching and Learning Archivist supports archival instruction and other curricular needs within Harvard Library’s Arts, Archives, and Special Collections, especially the Harvard University Archives.

The Teaching and Learning Archivist will collaborate with colleagues in the Teaching and Learning unit and the Harvard University Archives to prepare and lead instruction sessions using archival material across all disciplines, teach co-curricular workshops, and develop physical and digital learning objects for primary source learning and archival literacy. While primarily serving Harvard’s academic needs, they may also support instruction needs of other partners, such as University staff, community groups, other institutions of higher education, or K-12 classes.

Houghton Library has joined with the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Fine Arts Library, Harvard Film Archive, and Harvard University Archives to create Archives, Arts, and Special Collections of Harvard Library, an administrative unit engaged in planning integrated approaches to public services and technical services for archives and special collections across the portfolio.   

Houghton Library and Harvard University Archives are in the process of creating an integrated Public Services department that will provide research and teaching services for patrons of both units. The Teaching and Learning Archivist will be an important member of this new unit. 

Position Description

• Works across collections to prepare and lead instruction sessions with primary source materials, including evaluating and selecting materials, developing class plans, and collaborating with faculty on assignment design and learning outcomes.

• Performs curriculum-related collections research and develops expertise in archival and special collections holdings, especially at the Harvard University Archives.

• Develops learning objects like LibGuides, online resources, and worksheets and shares them for use by library staff, faculty, and students.

• Promotes inclusive teaching practices and a commitment to accessibility in the development and delivery of services and programs.

• Participates in data collection, assessment, and planning related to library instruction services.

• Contributes to planning, promoting, and delivering extracurricular and co-curricular workshops, including January Term offerings.

• Uses, promotes, and continually learns best practices for primary source instruction and assessment.

• Participates in ongoing learning and professional development relevant to position responsibilities and delivery of services and programs, as well as committees and special projects.

• May work in the Harvard University Archives reading room as needed.

• May supervise students and/or less-than-half-time employees.

• Participates in other tasks or projects as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and/or information science or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of two years’ experience in archives, special collections, or related institutions. Education may count toward experience.

• Experience with teaching in special collections, library, academic, or other contexts.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism, and to serving the needs of a diverse population.

• Experience with archival collections and/or an archives concentration during MLIS study strongly preferred.

• A strong public service orientation.

• Familiarity and comfort with archival and bibliographic description.

• Experience with assessment tools and methods.

• Knowledge of or interest in digital pedagogy.

• Knowledge of basic preservation and conservation issues as they relate to rare books and archival collections.

• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility and ability to work collegially and creatively within and across organizations.

• Excellent written and oral communication.

• High-level judgment and discretion and comfort with ambiguity.

• Ability to manage a broad variety of tasks in response to shifting priorities and changing constraints.

• Aptitude for detail, accuracy, efficiency, and good organizational skills.

• Ability to manage time and tasks and complete projects in a timely manner.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Familiarity with one or more languages (in addition to English) desirable.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to regularly lift 40 lb. records storage boxes.

• Occasionally ascends/descends small step stool. 

Working Conditions

• The position will be based on site in Cambridge, MA. There may be an opportunity for a hybrid work model compliant with Harvard University policies. 

• Work location is responsive and subject to change based on business needs. 

• Requests for flexibility will be considered consistent with Harvard University flexwork policies.

• Interacting with collections that may contain dust, mold, or other contaminants. 

• This position will work 9:00 am–5:00 pm Monday through Friday with possible occasional evening and weekend shifts.

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.

• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.

• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.

• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.

• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.

• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.

• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.

• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.

• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

386057 Library Professional

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Department

Archives, Arts, and Special Collections

Annual Salary Range

$74,200 to $126,200

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Across the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success.

We invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members. Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world’s most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society.

Harvard Library inspires collaboration, reflection, experimentation, and discovery connecting users to related disciplines and to University-wide teaching resources. The Library engages users through curated discovery, digital collections, reimagined physical space, and specialized research support.  Today, Harvard Library’s holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding access to digital resources. Harvard Library provides the University's faculty, students, and researchers—now and in the future—with exceptional experiences and comprehensive access to these materials.

Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://library.harvard.edu  and about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard .

The Harvard Library is a proud member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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